SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 22

SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS

A NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. CAPETOWN, January 24. In moving a vote of no-confidence in the Government, Mr Hertzog accused the Smuts Administration of plunging the country into discontent and ruin, keeping people down by force of arms, and breaking faith with Parliament. Labour is supporting the Nationalists, but the Government has a majority of half a dozen over the combined Opposition parties. January 25. In defending the Government from Nationalist and Labour attacks in the noconfidence debate, General Smuts pointed to the unparalleled progress of the Union, despite the war and internal unrest. He claimed that South Africa was a paradise compared with older countries. Civilisation in Europe was in a worse state than it had been for a thousand years. The men were mad, and the statesmen had lost all sense of proportion. The European situation was like a man walking in sleep on the edge of a precipice. During his speech General Smuts mentioned that he had received a letter from the reprieved Rand strikers expressing their gratitude, and saying: “For whatever errors we have made you have made repentance possible, and have left us hope of one day proving by good actions our worthiness.” FRACAS BETWEEN MEMBERS. CAPETOWN, January 27. Nationalist utterances derogatory to General Botha caused feeling to run high during a no-confidence motion. The debate culminated in a fracas between several members in the lobby. Air Beyers, K.C., one of the most venomous of General Botha’s detractors, and Sir Abe Bailey, a Government stalwart, took a prominent part in the fracas, the former emerging with a bruised face.